Improvement in potato-diggers



Emirati gaat GEORGE W. B. Yo'coM,.EoBEET J. WALKER, AND ELIAS SHARP,- oE AEcATA,

. OALIFORNIA.- i

Letters Patent No. 96,370, .dated November 2, 1869.

IMPRVEMENT IN POTATO-DIG-G-ERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all` whmwit may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE W. B YoCoM, RoB- mrr J .WALKER, Vand ELIAS SHARP, of Arcata, Hum` boldt county, and State of California, have invented celtain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Digging Machines; and we do hereby declare vthat the following description and accompanying drawings are suicient to enable any person skilled in the art or scienceto which it most nearly appertains, to make and. use our said invention or improvements, without further invention or experiment..

Our invention consists of a plow with open throat, through which the potatoes and dirt pass on to an endless chain-carrier, which is caused to rotate by means ot'a gear-connection attached to one end of the driv-v ing-wheels.

The forward end of the carrier and plow is so arranged as to be raised and lowered to cnt the desired depth, and elevate the contents of the hill or row, the width of which is marked and eut by revolving cutters 4at each side of the plow.'

ping, by means of cogs or projections, which pass be-V tween the openings'ot the rods which form the car-l rier D.

Arms D2 D2 are hinged to the frame, through which the spindle or' axis which carries the lower eld of the elevator passes, and the plow E is rigidly attached to vthese arms, and. both the plow and carrieris raised. and lowered at once by a windlass, F,'placed at the top of the frame., which has a chain-connection with the upright standard GG of the plow. By this means, a greater or less inclination is imparted to the plow and carrier, and the position is maintained by a 'pawl and ratchet, H, at one end of the windlass.

Arms I I extend forward from the plow-standard, and are provided with forked ends, on which circular cutting-plates or lknives. ICI' revolve, to cut vertically the width of the row or hills.

A In t-he operation of our machine, the plow cuts'below the hill or row, and the potatoes and dirt enter the throat of the plow, and pass up the carrier, the dirt sifting .between the opening ofthe transverse rods, falls to the ground,`ad the potatoes are carried along and dropped at the upper end of the carrier.

'Ihe axle J is curved upward, to provide a passageway for the carrier, debris, and potatoes.

Having thus described our invention,

What ,we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,.isl A The potato-digger described, consisting of the plow E, with open throat and double shares, hinged arms D2, cam D1, cutters I', and wndlass H, the whole being' combined vand arranged as described, for` the purpose set forth.

Intestimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals.

' G. W. B. lYOCOM. [n s.] ROBERT J. WALKER. [n s.] ELIAS SHARP. [n s] Witnesses:

BYRON Dame, G. P.v Dow. 

